The Leeds United manager's sending off should not overshadow what he did right vs Man City
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
07:00, 01 Mar 2026
Daniel Farke applauds the fans at full time
View Image
Daniel Farke applauds the fans at full time(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
The score says Leeds United 0-1 Manchester City but that only tells a fraction of the story.
Not that the players will have checked the results but before kick-off Leeds fans knew they could not have ceded ground to relegation rivals given West Ham United’s defeat to Liverpool and Burnley’s dramatic loss to Brentford. So it means the bottom three picture remains the same with one fewer game (10) left to play.
On another day, Leeds could have got a result and should have at least scored. Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be having nightmares about his early miss. At the same time, Man City showed why they are title challengers.
They amassed 67% of possession and had the better xG and on the other foot made 39 clearances and won 17 tackles. Yet that 15 minutes at the end amid the raft of substitutes saw Leeds go close to equalising through Jaka Bijol and shows why maybe, just maybe, Leeds will stay up.
Farke’s red card
Daniel Farke very rarely lets emotions get the better of him but Saturday was one of very few occasions even he could not keep the lid on.
Incensed with referee Peter Bankes blowing for full-time soon after the six minutes of added time elapsed despite Man City’s time-wasting, Farke made a beeline for the officials after shaking hands with Pep Guardiola. Bankes quickly showed him a straight red.
The Whites have not received a red card since Boxing Day 2023, and their discipline record has been praised as a result. For Farke himself, usually the coolest man inside Elland Road, to be the one to technically end that streak is ironic and also means he must serve a one-game touchline ban.
It was very uncharacteristic from Farke. His absence naturally weakens Leeds’ stance against Sunderland on Tuesday, with assistant coach Eddie Riemer expected to lead the dugout albeit with pre-set instructions likely fed to him.
Boos amid Ramadan break
We have to highlight what happened 13 minutes into the game when the match paused to allow Muslim players to break their fast amid Ramadan. Both sets of players gathered on the touchline. Boos rang out around Elland Road.
A message had appeared on the big screen to give the reason behind the break, yet some jeers carried on. It was not a good look.
“Obviously some of the supporters did it, so we try to learn from it. It’s disappointing and yeah, [we’ll do] better next time,” said Riemer, conducting media duties amid Farke’s touchline ban, after full-time.
Guardiola reacted: "It's the modern world, right? Look what's happening in the world right now, today, again, right?
"Respect the religions, respect the diversity - that is the point. It's the rule, we didn't say that, it's the Premier League who said, 'OK for the fasting you can be one or two minutes to do that, for the players, do it'.
Anti-discriminatory movement Kick It Out later released a statement, saying: “Tonight’s reaction shows, football still has a long way to go in terms of education and acceptance.”
Lots to get behind
“It's an incredible stadium with a good vibe, we know it,” said Guardiola of Elland Road ahead of the match. Why Leeds had gone unbeaten in all seven prior home night games was plain to see both in the stands and on the pitch.
Man City were always going to be the toughest evening test of the lot so far and Leeds ultimately lost their home night-game streak, which actually stretched to 25 previous post-5pm Premier League encounters. But there were still lots of positives to take.
The pressing game in the first half was effective and Leeds won the ball high up the pitch multiple times with a high turnover rate that Farke was often seen applauding. Balls from the wide centre-backs over the top of the defence also caused disruption and kept Man City on the back foot.
The last 15 minutes was also encouraging when Wilfried Gnonto and Daniel James were put on for Ilia Gruev and Jayden Bogle, Farke showing ambition and intent that should not go unnoted. Later came on Joel Piroe with Bijol going close with his first touch from his header.
Article continues below
Leeds tested Man City and the visiting reactions to the sucker-punch goal at the end of the first half and at full-time showed how hard Leeds had worked the Blues. From now on, Leeds only play one current top six club for the rest of the season - Manchester United.